Our Year in DC Winds to an End

DC has surprised us all in being a tremendously liveable city, and with a lot of character packed into a small space. There is a long list of highlights, but some that come immediately to mind are…

• the many, many, many trips to the Georgetown library (honourable mention to the Tenleytown one, which we also loved)… many were combined with visits to Rani at Gallery 1610 for some chai and chats, what else could a girl (dragging two boys around) want!

• the pizza at La Casina… best I've ever eaten IN MY LIFE!

• the chaos and heat of a Nats game. The seats were literally setting our bums on fire! I still don't understand baseball, but the pretzels were ooh-la-la (and better than the ones at the Boston stadium where we caught the World Cup QF)

• driving through Georgetown… walking is fun too, but gosh so many people sometimes!
• D80!!!!!! Oh my God, the most epic bus that pretty much was the ONLY bus passing through Wisconsin Ave. Thank you D80 for some of my more colourful journeys to and from work! No seriously dicey experience, so I got lucky to have quite a rose-tinted experience with DC public transport.
• Of course, BISW. Amazing teachers, wonderful parent community. Could not get a more welcoming place for us to quickly integrate into. (See Nikhil's section for more detailed views on the school)
• SNOOOWWW! And SNOW DAYS!! What joy to receive the alert from the office that everyone can work from home! (mainly because I would NOT be able to navigate transport in the snow) Bum-sledding down snow hills was also fun, but I will not miss the grey slush.

• Making ice cream in the snow on our balcony.

• Whitehaven trails. What bliss! And how lucky were we to have this in our backyard. So many spiritual/heart breakthroughs. PLUS, BUNNIES!!

• Nerd nite, one of the earlier night adventures when we got a babysitter and went to a bar to listen to some nerd lectures in stand-up comedy style.
• The Lutheran church in Georgetown where we wandered in for Octoberfest and were sticking out like sore thumbs. Super welcoming and we loved the wall of crosses from every country (and someday hope to return with a cross from Singapore for their wall!)
• Dumbarton Oaks garden… the one that got away LOL. We lived right by it but never made it in…
• Spring, and how quickly it comes and goes! So pretty, so fleeting!

• The mall, in its many seasons and from its many angles. From our multiple trips to the Washington Monument (going up to the top was the capstone), to the WC watch party, State Fair and other 250th celebrations, to cherry blossom in every direction, the mall really feels like the heart of DC (and also a construction/clean-up site vis-à-vis the reflecting pool LOL).

• The enormous privilege of watching America celebrate its 250th year of independence on the 4th of the July

• driving past the pretty embassies (and going for SG embassy and community makan sessions).

For a capital city, it definitely had the big monuments and grandeur, but it never felt intimidating (in comparison, NYC feels really overwhelming). And these are just the places! The people were also surprisingly relaxed, engaged, and warm; not what I expected from a city with a high proportion of transient/international folks. We made some deep friendships in a short span of time, including some who will get invited to Nikhil's/Mika's weddings!

In short, 10/10 would recommend.